Politics

WATCH: Benghazi witness on stand-down order: 'First time in my career that a diplomat has more balls than somebody in the military'

(Madeleine Morgenstern) Gregory Hicks, the former deputy chief of mission in Libya, told a House Oversight Committee the blunt reaction he received from U.S. military personnel after the order to stand down on a rescue mission for those in Benghazi.

“They were not authorized to travel,” Hicks said in response to questions from Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) Wednesday. “They remained in Tripoli with us. The medic went with the nurse to the hospital to — and his skills to the treatment of and care of our wounded.

“How did personnel react to being told to stand down?” Chaffetz asked.

“They were furious,” Hicks said. “I will quote Lt. Col. Gibson, he said, ‘this is the first time in my career that a diplomat has more balls than somebody in the military.’”